Vintage Little Metal Hippo

While cleaning out a friend's barn, my husband made this discovery. I loved it so much that my friend let me keep him. He looks like he is made from cast metal, and he must be old. My husband is guessing that it's from the 1930s. I found out that the star-shaped screws were invented in 1934, and it is held together with these type of screws.

I tried to do some research on him, but there are no markings on him. The only thing I found was this blog post where someone else, in New Zealand, had found one that is identical. Mine appears to be all original. I opened him up and he is hollow inside.

his mouth opens:

his head, arms and legs rotate around, and he has a "loop" on his head that leads me to think that he is meant to be a pendant of some sort:

If you have any information on him, I'd really love to hear what you think!

lesa likes

White Vintage Lace on Dusky Rose Brooch, Lace and Mahogany Series
"Hi, I'm Lesa. I paint without putting paper down. I garden without gloves. I often have trouble falling to sleep cause I've had an idea I can't shake. I love vibrant colour, strong patterns and thoughtful design. I am inspired by master crafters and people who create. And it really is the pretty things in life that give me joy."
bio written by Lesa via her etsy profile

Vintage Chase

Handmade Large Brown Leather Bag with Vintage Embroidery Accents
"I'm a born and bred California girl, colleged on the East Coast, spent some time in Central America, lived on an Island in Washington and then circled back to California. I've been creating, sewing, designing for as long as I can remember, as my mother did before me, and her mother before her. Lucky for me my mother could look at anything and figure out how to make a pattern from that vision, luckier for me I seem to be able to do the same thing. I seem to be happiest designing, creating, and sharing that vision. I have been in the textile business for the past 15 years, creating, writing, copywriting and publishing contemporary quilt patterns. This exciting pursuit has taken me to trade and retail shows across the country and to England to teach and sell my patterns (Chase Adams Designs). During this time I started to notice that once a fabric was down to several yards on the bolt it was usually thrown out, ending in landfills. With this in mind I went back to my studio and began designing handbags from discarded decorator fabric and recycled leather, plus vintage kimono's and scarfs for the linings. Using the skills that I learned from a Master Level Leather class while in college, couture and quilt making techniques I was taught as a child, plus antique brass pieces and embroidery sourced from Europe, Vintage Chase was born! We are excited to be part of the eco-designer community that is striving to have our product represent as close to 100% recyled/upcycled as possible. Please take the time to visit my second store ChaseVintage.etsy.com, where I am offering an eclectic mix of vintage items for your home, and our upcoming online store at www.ChasingVintage.com. Also please visit my oldest daughters RiordanStudio.etsy.com She has a beautiful selection of vintage estate jewelry. Ahh, love it when things come full circle!"
bio written by VintageChase via the etsy profile

crafty pagan

Luxury Handmade Vintage Style Tented Place Cards
"Welcome to Craftypagan Designs! We create and sell unique vintage style paper goods and gifts for all events and occasions. I take great pride in my work and enjoy making special, unique, handcrafted pieces for you. I get such a thrill thinking about where in the world my items have gone to and the special touches we have added to peoples special events!
All the designs-all of which are 100% unique and original-have been designed by me, Rowena. Almost every step of our products is handmade-for being hand cut (even the tags) to hand dyed and hand stamped. We pride ourselves on the quality and beauty of our designs as well as our customer service.
Craftypagan Designs is mine and my husband's full time job:) I also design for several rubber stamp companies."
bio written by Rowena via the etsy profile
ETSY * FACEBOOK * TWITTER * BLOG

Star Bags

Doily and Roses- Big Shoulder Bag
"Jewelry making for me started in a rough way some fifteen years ago. I had an accident at the building site (I am a civil engineer) that left me incapacitated and unable to do that kind of work any longer. After a long convalescence I decided to move from the Netherlands with my then adolescent daughter, Estella, to Turkey, a favorite holiday spot for us. The climate was more favorable for my injuries and the cost of living was a lot cheaper which suited my dramatically diminished income. And this has proved to be a sound decision. My physical mobility improved greatly, and the beauty of the country, the colors, the traditions, and even the smells are a daily source of inspiration.
I have always had a passion for handcrafts, but of course, being a single ‘Mum' with a full time job, it had been years since I had had the time and tranquility to do something with my hands. Well, here was my opportunity!
As my daughter was growing up we explored many crafts together: drawing, painting, embroidering, and decorating the house (with often a zero budget but smashing results). Our many friends and acquaintances considered us the most creative family they knew.
A visit some eight years ago to a remote village where ethnic fellahs live, brought about a fundamental change to our crafts. A young woman gave me present, a piece of fabric on which she had ‘painted' a characteristic ruin of her village. The ‘painting' was done with sequins and beads, and in bold colors; and it was very expressive.
What a discovery! My daughter and I began to create fabric pictures of buildings, mosques and churches with onion domes, an old passion of mine from my building life. Sewing sequin by sequin, tiny seed bead by tiny seed bead onto the fabric we created bright, fantastic landscapes for our walls. Each work took several months to complete, generally with me sketching the composition and making the contours while my daughter, with better eyes and quicker hands, filled it in. And from this a very close and personal way of working together was born, the two of us with four hands working towards a common goal.
And then, five years ago, jewelry making became a fashion even in the small town in southwest Turkey where we live and all kind of beads and findings began to arrive from Istanbul, where, of course, every thing imaginable in the world can be found at the bazaar. Estella started to make her own jewellery and soon I got interested too. And from the first necklace we created, we had the feeling we could become really, really good at this, we could be passionate about it and fulfilled. My daughter and I have since go on to create hundreds of jewelry pieces, with two different tastes and designstyles Estella's and mine. Estella skillfully executing the designs, she also solves the technical problems of jewelry making. This work bring us great joy, especially the hands on aspect of it, and the fact that women look great in our designs gives us a kick.
Estella has finished her education as an interior designer (you know, smashing results with almost zero budget) but in the small town where we live there is not a big demand for this. The jewelry making, however is a different story. Women (and men) always feel a need to embellish themselves. Jewelry helps women to feel good, to look good, and yes, to heal themselves, and we are there for every woman and every budget.
Thousands of people make a living either in the jewelry industry or by making jewelry, and with so many competitors it is a challenge to be different and to get our name out there while at the same time working to improve our craft. We feel Etsy is a step in the right direction and will help us to achieve our goals, and it also a great way to make new friends."
bio written by Esther and Estella via this etsy profile

laura fauna

robin's egg wrap dress
"I have been sewing my whole life- I can't remember a time when I wasn't making things. My mother worked in a drapery shop when I was little and I delighted in the days she took me with her. These days I mostly make clothes (I love working with vintage fabrics and knits the most), but if an interesting supply comes my way I love making use of it in any way I can dream up."
bio written by laurafauna via her etsy profile

Janet Caterina

Vintage Style Slip
"Independent Designer uses Vintage 1940's and 1950's Patterns, Toronto boutique sales since 2005, production management and technical design, original designs sold across Canada, Janet Caterina label"
mini-bio written by JanetCaterina via the etsy profile

that old blue house

Retrieved Vintage Lace Earrings
"I have worked with stained glass for over 20 years. My jewelry evolved from my love of antiques. I collect vintage textiles and postcards, and I had to finance my collecting addiction!! That was how That Old Blue House was born.
My Vintage lace & quilt jewelry pays homage to the women who created these works of art many years ago. I only use tattered pieces of fabric & give them a "second life", to be enjoyed by a new generation.
I also create jewelry that I just like, not necessarily vintage, just fun!!
I only use silver solder, and most of my jewelry uses micro-thin glass. I find this glass produces a nice light-weight piece, with lots of opportunity to put things between 2 pieces!!
My jewelry has been featured in Lucky Magazine, Anthropologie, Quilters Home Magazine, The Quilter Magazine, And Quiltmaker Magazine."
bio found via the etsy profile
WEBSITE * ETSY * FACEBOOK * TWITTER

contrary

Antique Rustic Silver Plated Fork Bracelet
"•◦CONTRARY is the one woman operation run by yours truly, Miss Mary Andrews. I'm an artist and designer dwelling in Brooklyn, NY. I developed a deep appreciation and understanding for all things handmade with a particular interest in jewelry design while earning my Bachelor of Fine Arts from Virginia Commonwealth University's School of the Arts."
bio written by Mary via her etsy profile
BLOG * FACEBOOK * ETSY

I am in love with this video!

ps: today is my birthday!

Vintage Teal Etsy Anti-Treasury

I think that "vintage" and "teal" naturally go together. It is such a gorgeous color and when you combine it with wonderful vintage items, all seems right with the world, at least for a moment.

1) MOVING SALE....Teal Secretary Ruffle Blouse by MadLexVintage
2) Vintage Nymolle Numbered Limited Edition Souvenir Dish Art Faience by tigerluxe
3) Vintage teal sew thru glass buttons - set of 8 - 18mm by avedisgems
4) Teal Ceramic Owl Toothpick Holder by peanutmm
5) Vintage Pyrex Cinderella Mixing Bowls - Butterprint Pattern by vintageavacado
6) Peacock Embroidered Tunic Dress by hollybeans
7) Vintage Teal and Brown Crocheted Round Seat Cover by eagerhands
8) Teal Houndstooth Wooden Purse. by funretro

54 days of Christmas, FINISHED!

I did it! I have described everything that I have done to prepare for Christmas for the past 54 days (since November 1st)! I am proud of myself for accomplishing a goal. Even though somedays I did nothing Christmas-sy, I still stated that... Merry Christmas to all my faithful followers & readers!



DAY 1: went to a beautiful Christmas Eve service, and R came over to exchange gifts, K & kids also came over to exchange gifts, as did E.
DAY 2: Nothing Christmas-sy today
DAY 3: M brought over our gifts
DAY 4: Wayne took gift to G.
DAY 5: Nothing Christmas-sy today

54 days of Christmas, day 43

DAY 43: I received a vintage angel ornament (photo below)in the mail today via a swap on etsy. it is marked "japan" on the back; I will continue to sew on the trim to the quilt as I watch Survivor tonight. I also received some Christmas scrapbooking supplies (for the christmas journal swap with polar on swap-bot) from Vblarney via my Wishlist on swap-bot.

MATTES LACE and TRIMMING Co.

ATTN: SEWERS!!
I want to tell everyone about this great shop on etsy:
MATTES LACE & TRIMMING Co.
They have wonderful fabrics and trims and laces. So easy and friendly to deal with! The next time you need something for your sewing project, check out this store first!!